More User Reviews:

I love Lagunitas and I've never seen this one before so I had to pick it up.

A - Beautiful dark ruby color. Clear with a huge white head and stong lacing.

S - Sweet hop character that is fruity almost like fresh sweet blueberries. There are also the some of the more traditional citrus and herbal hop tones. There is a rich maltiness under the hops with some light alcohol and caramel in the background. It has a traditional ESB, fruity yeast character but to the next level.

T - The taste also has that almost berry taste with a sweet fruitiness that comes from the yeast, the malt, and the hops all melding together in one fine beer. It is definitely an American Strong ale with the richness and the hops to try and duke it out on your palate. The fruity yeast and hops are more predominant on the tongue with the malty, grainy, and caramel flavors mixing well together. There is a bitterness that attempts to compliment the sweetness and is clean on the finish.

M - High to medium mouth-feel with medium to high carbonation. For being almost 10% ABV and a very sweet flavor I would expect this beer to be almost cloying but with the higher carbonation and hop bitterness it does not stick but instead just teases your tongue asking for more.

Overall, a really delicious beer and definitely a unique American Strong ale. Not as overtly powerful as Bastard nor as malty as Hairy Eyeball but is very good and is balanced enough to have more than one of (although the alcohol will sneak up on you.) This is the perfect beer for early spring with plenty of flavor to awaken your soul but enough alcohol to warm you toes.

You know, I always forget how great this beer is since us seasonal. Man, dies it just hit the spot! Sweet IPA. Mmmmm. Perfect beer to eat with. Great mouth feel. Amazing smell. Fruity and dank, citrus. No slouch at 9.6anv either. It creeps up. Let me tell ya.

Beautiful clear copper color, with a fluffy two-finger head that lasted a good five minutes, great lacing all the way down the glass. Lots of flowery aromas up front, along with a touch of grapefruit and a slightly soapy smell. The flavor had lots of grapefruit and onion up front, with a sweet caramel flavor in the background, very nice combo, with a bit of lingering alcohol. The mouthfeel was medium bodied, with some good carbonation prickliness on the tongue. Overall, it really like this beer, bitter up front with a nice sweet backbone.

An amber brown pour that's much clearer than I would have guessed. It's not translucent, but it's only borderline opaque. The head is exquisite. A finger and a half thick with long legs. Very white and quite frothy. Really thick and sticky lace.

Early on I thought I picked up some IPA scents, but as I reviewed the appearance and went back for another whiff, I lost the pine and picked up bready, biscuity malts instead.

The hop presence is limited, this beer is all malt. This time it's caramel malts that are highlighted. There's an earthy taste I can't quite put my finger on.

Exceptionally smooth and almost creamy. The malts provide a gentle sweetness. Smooth throughout, it's very easy to drink, even with 9.3% ABV. Full bodied with an extremely faint bitter linger.

This isn't exactly what I expected, but as usual, it's really good. It's so smooth and the ABV s so well hidden, this beer could cause problems.

I drink in near darkness so I have no comment on color, lacing, etc. Purchased from 711 based on abv/price. Enjoyed a sixer over 2 nights, the second night at room temp. Smelled sweet and raisiny to me with a hint of the alcohol. Felt silky in my mouth and pretty light in body given the alcohol content. Little carbonation. Sweet and malty but bitter at the same time w a tinge of what fermented fruit leather might taste like. At nearly 10%, three of these back to back makes for a nice buzz. I imagine Id like one with a soft gingersnap or 2 w a rare piece off beef. 3 plus a toke in bed has me winking out before 2 episodes of the xfiles. Ill drink six in a row when I'm ready to start a 4 hour day before noon. IMO great taste, price, and volume economy on the lift/blanket you get.

Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale [WOW! that is a long beer name] body color is an amber with a 1 1/2-finger creamy off-white head that had good retention. The head finally reduced to a latticework of lacing. The nose was dominated by citrus hops. The taste also had a dominate hop character [grapefruit, pine] with some peppery alcohol and just enough malt to keep the Ale from being too hoppy. The mouth feel was medium and smooth. There was a nice warming alcohol presence. The finish is dry and has a lingering hoppy and spicy bitterness.

If you like assertive hops, Undercover is for you. Nicely done Lagunitas..

A: Pours a clear burnt orange, leaning towards the dimmer side. Two fingers of light khaki head with an aggressive pour, slow to fade, and lots of sticky lacing. Classically good looking, just with some bonus head for a ASA.

T: Loads of sweet caramel malt, toasted biscuit, and a significant amount of hop bitterness as well. A drying citrus rind flavor, sharp... manages to cut into the malt without overpowering it.

M: Smooth with the faintest touch of carbonation. Thick and chewy without feeling heavy. If it wasn't for the high ABV I could easily put back a couple of these before feeling palette fatigue.

O: Quite the interesting beer. A bit of a Jekyll and Hyde. A big, robust, malt bomb of a strong ale... with a hefty serving of hops thrown in for good measure. Mouth puckering sweetness, but also bitter drying citrus. I have always enjoyed this beer, but it is not one for the faint of heart. Its big, it changes minute by minute as it warms, and at 9+% it will end you before you know it.

One of the single worst tasting beverages I've ever had. Slick, oily mouthfeel coats the tongue and doesn't let go. Cloyingly piney, "What the hell am I drinking?" reaction after first sip. Overdone on every level - I don't understand what this beer is trying to be.

Bought a six pack at a convenience store, cold, for 9.99. Bottled 5 weeks ago.

Appearance: Nice thick foamy head.

Smell: Not exotic or wildly fruity, but a nice balanced grapefruit/pine with slight muskiness.

Taste: Some malt up front, but not syrupy. Not as heavy or sweet as Lagunitas Brown Shugga, so it goes well with food. Grapefruit, pine, and a hint of nutmeg in the taste. Not wildly hoppy like Enjoy By, not even as fruity or complex as Lagunitas SUCKS, nor as forward as a Stone IPA or Sculpin, but it has a IBU of 67 which is easily drinkable. The aftertaste is soft, and the slight hoppyness dissipates slowly.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation is spot on.

Overall: I like it for the buzz, good taste, and very good balance between sweet and bitter. Great with food. It will appeal to lots of people who don't like really bitter IPA's but want a good buzz as the 9.6 ABV is well hidden. It does this so well I gave it 4.25 overall. Take it to a picnic if you want to give them a sneaky buzz. Not the one to impress hop aficionados though.

Pours a dark orange red copper bronze color with a two finger white great. The nose reminds me a lot of belgian ale. Coriander, cloves, orange peel, brandy, hard candy. The flavor is equal parts spice and sweet. The mouthfeel is fairly thick and creamy. This is a unique beer. However, i find it a bit sweet for my taste. I could use some more IBU.

T - Bitter up front with a piney hop bite, strong caramel malt character with a lingering bitterness. No hiding the ABV on this one.

F - Mouthfeel is light, slight carbonation, a bit resinous at best.

Overall - This is the kind of beer that would slap your grandmother and unapologetically urinate on your family's heirloom rug. Not a beer for weak willed lager swilling sissies. IMHO, not Lagunitas' finest offering, but it is quite enjoyable in moderation.

Reviewing yet another Lagunitas American strong ale.Pourd into a tulip glass a clear bronze color with a thinner but well sustained slight off white head,aromas were a bit lighter than expected,mainly some resinous hop and sweetish alcohol.Thinner feel for a "bigger" beer and a little prickly.Flavors dont seem to pack enough punch although that could come from the lighter feel,resinous hop intertwined with a hefty caramel malt base,the alcohol creeps as the beer warms.I love this brewery, but I dont love this beer sad to say.

On tap at local Flying Saucer Emporium. Pours dark amber red. Little to no head with tan color. Lacing on glass very pronounced. Taste is malty and sweet with an alcohol warmth on the back end. Aroma is pine and grapefruit. Delicious DIPA will definitely try again.

Lagunitas has great beers, however this was not one of my favorites. I just felt the beer could have been better balanced for the 9.3 percent ABV. I was slightly disappointed, as it was very boozy tasting. Just my perspective, as I see solid ratings below. Just not my favorite and won't buy again.

Lagunitas Sneak Release Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale pours a clear orange red with a nice creamy head that lingers for quite a while. From the moment I opened the bottle I was hit with big citrusy hop aroma, grapefruit, and pine backed up with a good amount of malt sweetness. The sweetness is predominate in the flavor, lots of caramel and toffee, but there is no lack of citrusy hop flavor. There is a nice bitterness that rounds out the beer, but not overpowering for the beers strength. A bit of alcohol comes through in the finish, but not too much for a beer of the strength.